"But it was definitely before seeing Arcade Fire listed on the best of 2005 album list before it was rightfully removed, which is the first thing I distinctly can recall about Stereogum"
lol I don't remember this. Was this a Gummy Awards where readers voted it in and then we decided it should be ineligible?

Loved this album. I got into them with Nonesuch and was so psyched to FINALLY get a new album. “River Of Orchids” was on an UNCUT CD (IIRC) I wore out. Apple Venus was not what I was expecting, but I wasn’t disappointed. Wish I could stream it right now.